Kamran Jamshidi - CPO
As the Chief Product Officer at Mercell, it is my privilege to lead and oversee all products and services offered by the group. My primary focus is on ensuring that our offerings consistently meet the needs of our customers and drive business growth.
One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received was to always be willing to learn and to never stop asking questions. This has helped me to stay open to new ideas and perspectives and has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth. I believe the ultimate goal as a leader should be to work hard enough and strategically enough that you have more than enough to give and share with others.
What drew you to Mercell?
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join Mercell. The company's long history of innovation and dedication to helping buyers and suppliers streamline their procurement processes aligns with my passion for developing solutions to real problems and incorporating emerging technologies into the product development process. I am excited to join the leadership team at Mercell and contribute to the company's continued growth and success. With the talented individuals on the team, I believe we can take Mercell to even greater heights and make a positive impact on the industry.
What is your role in Mercell going to be?
As the Chief Product Officer at Mercell, it is my privilege to lead and oversee all products and services offered by the group. My primary focus is on ensuring that our offerings consistently meet the needs of our customers and drive business growth. To achieve this, I will collaborate closely with our investors, executive leadership team, cross-functional teams, sales, marketing, operations, and other functions to bring new ideas and a clear vision to the table.
In addition to driving product innovation, I am also responsible for leading and inspiring a talented team of product professionals. I believe that great products are a result of great teams, and I am committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within our team. As the leader of the product team, I will manage, motivate, and grow our team members, helping them to develop their skills and capabilities.
I am also excited to support product due diligence for new acquisitions as part of our plans to triple the business in the next three years. As a privately owned company within the portfolio of Thoma Bravo, one of the world's largest private equity firms, Mercell has the opportunity to make strategic investments and drive global growth. I am confident that with our strong leadership, dedicated team, and clear vision, we will be able to achieve our ambitious growth goals.
Background
Can you tell us a little bit about what you have done previously?
I have always been an adventurous person and have pursued a variety of passions throughout my life. In my twenties, I focused on aligning myself and building the foundation for future success by serving as a platoon commander in the Danish army, where I learned the value of discipline, hard work, and leadership. My time in the military also taught me about the limits of my (then) physical and mental capabilities, and I was amazed by how much I could grow and achieve with training and determination. In addition to my military service, I also developed my skills in software engineering and coded extensively during this time.
In my thirties, I turned my focus to trying out different things and figuring out what works and what doesn’t. I founded a company that provided digital marketing and go-to-market services to enterprise organizations. I later sold this company to Siteimprove and reinvested everything into the company. As the Chief Product Officer of Siteimprove, I played a key role in growing the company from $37 million in annual recurring revenue in 2016 to over $100 million in ARR in 2020. The company was subsequently sold to Nordic Capital in a billion deal.
Now in my forties, I am focusing on advancement by leveraging my strengths and building on what has been successful for me in the past. Before joining Mercell, I served as the Chief Product Officer of Bauer MediaGroup, a German multimedia conglomerate with over 2.2 billion Euros in annual revenue. In this role, I led a global team of approximately 2500 professionals in the development and delivery of innovative products and services that engaged and inspired our audience. Market-leading positions across Europe with more than 100 digital products and 400+ magazines, as well as 100 radio stations, digital marketing as a service offering, and OCP. We also successfully sunsetted and sold several products and assets during my time at the company.
A Mercellian outside of Mercell
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, my name is Kamran. I am 41 years old and currently live in the charming town of Dragør with my wife, Jasmin (who is Danish), and our two energetic sons, Maverick and Mason.
In my free time, I enjoy staying active through activities such as running and hiking and also love to cook and experiment with different ingredients and cuisines. However, I also have a soft spot for classics like burgers, pizza, and mac and cheese.
Your favourite line or quote from a song/movie?
One of my favourite quotes comes from the movie "The Shawshank Redemption": "Get busy living, or get busy dying." It’s a great reminder to keep striving for our goals and not give up when things get tough. Another quote that I really like is "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” It’s by Jimmy Dean and I think it's a powerful message about resilience and determination. It reminds us that we may not be able to control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we react to it and how we pursue our goals.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower, it would definitely be the ability to teleport! Can you imagine the endless possibilities? I could easily travel to any location in the world and making it so much easier to work with team members and customers around the globe. Plus, with the power of teleportation, I could respond to emergencies and natural disasters in a flash, helping those in need and possibly even saving lives. And let's not forget about the freedom to explore and experience new cultures and places without the limitations of physical travel. How amazing would that be?!
